HoopsRumorsThe Magic and Knicks have had discussions about a deal that would send J.J. Redick to New York and Iman Shumpert to Orlando, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Kennedy notes that if the teams were to get serious about a trade, other players, or perhaps a third club, would have to get involved in order to match salaries.Shumpert’s agent, Happy Walters, said yesterday that reports indicating that his client is unhappy with his role in New York and wants to be traded are “totally false.” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Knicks wouldn’t consider moving him. Although the team seems to value Shumpert highly, he remains virtually the only young piece on a team of veterans. If the Knicks decide to go all-in to contend in the short term, the second-year guard would be the club’s most logical trade chip. The Suns were also said to have interest in Shumpert, though ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard reported last week that a deal involving Shumpert and Jared Dudley is “not happening.” Meanwhile, the Bucks, Bulls, and Pacers are among the teams reportedly interested in Redick.

As a New York Knicks fan, and a huge fan of Iman Shumpert, I really hope the Knicks are not serious about this potential trade. If the Knicks make this move, it is clear that it will be an attempt to “Win Now” mode with no regard for the future.

Shumpert is coming off of a torn ACL, and while he will not be 100% this season, he is the Knicks most valuable young player. He is really the Knicks ONLY young player. He is also by far the Knicks best perimeter defender, and although the acquisition of Reddick would give the Knicks another shooter, Redick would be a major step back defensively.

I am a huge Shumpert fan, but I’m not adverse to trading him if the Knicks do not get back a big piece, one that would drastically increase the Knicks odds of beating the Miami Heat and winning the 2013 NBA Title. If the Knicks do trade Shumpert it should be for a player that can defend and rebound, because I do not think they beat Miami without another big man. To beat the Heat, the Knicks need to dominate on the glass, which could be tough to do as presently constructed.

With Carmelo Anthony on the court there are not a lot of shots to go around, and while Redick will improve the Knicks marginally offensively, they will suffer on the defensive end without Shumpert. Shumpert is still evolving as a player, and if his jump shot starts falling with more consistency, he has star potential.

I do not see how the acquisition of another shooter like J.J. Redick makes the Knicks a better team in 2013, and I think it makes them much worse defensively and in a worse position going forward as they have zero youth other than Shumpert.